Silicone can be formulated for a specific softness represented by its target Shore A durometer rating—a standardized system for measuring the softness of rubbery materials. The higher the rating number, the harder the material.
We formulate the medical-grade silicone in OmniMask to a very soft Shore 30A rating. Through extensive testing, we found this value maximizes wearer comfort while preserving structural stability.
In contrast, all major-brand masks that we tested reported a semi-rigid Shore 50A-rating (akin to a pencil's pink eraser) due to their manufacture from more rigid oil-based thermoplastics. As result, these masks tend to be stiffer and less conforming to the specific contours of a user's face, which negatively impacts both seal and comfort.
For comparison purposes, the following chart describes some common items and their Shore A ratings.